Rippin_93 5.8 Engine Swap plus AOD and ATLAS T-CASE

[Rippin_93]

Hey all ive had my 93 sitting in my drive way for 6 months now and it is time to start this hellish project known only as the swap! it will be a long road im sure but have been trying to resurch this when i can and have been saving up to do this so now is the time to do it right before summer.

To start off with here is what i have. ive almost got the motor out hopfully this weekend and have been given a 351W for free. i was going to go with the 5.0 swap with the donor vehicle but i guess that ive switched routes.

Here is the plan now this might change but i think i got most of what i want.

351W going to be rebuilt. its carb so will need to be switched to EFI. now i dont really plan on useing any of the old stuff like guages or anything i already have a set of autometer guages that im going to put in. O and no AC so that should be fun in the summer here in AZ

the motor already has all the pulleys and stuff so that is nice. what im looking for is a fuel mangment unit like FAST or something to control this thing or ill go with the Ford racing kit. havent decided that route yet.

as for tranny id like an AOD with a B&M shifter thats for sure. now my question on this is would it be best to just buy new or find one out of a junker and rebuild it? i know that the rebuilt A4ld's are crap. i havent really heard of that problem with the AOD.

as for T-case im going with an atlas. ive always wanted one so i think now is the time. also got a 2 inch body lift coming as well in addition to the 5.5 superlift i already have.

from what ive read the header clearance is the big issue. i have a friend that welds for a living and have already talked to him about notching the frame and boxing the front end.

i got motor mounts, raidiator, oil relocation, and misc on order

i would have liked to to an axle swap too but if this costs me $6-8000 i wont really have the cash so will have to wait on that.

any suggestions comments or anything chime in. ive been looking at doing this before my X craped out and if anyone wants the motor, tranny or t-case let me know. ill try and get some pics up when im farther in the project right now kinda boring. looking forward to long hours and alot of work. this will be a total first for me so im kinda scared about the whole deal and alittle overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to get done. ill update you when i can later all!!

 

[410Fortune]

Nice! Been there done that! Plan twice as long and twice as much $$$, that Atlas case will eat up half your budget right there!

Convert the 351 to EFI, why not us a Ford EEC-IV PCM, ignition, and fuel injection???
Simple and cheap, go with a MAS system for better performance
You can likely pass emissions on your 93 with this setup too.

Also why no AC? if I was in AZ I would FIND A WAY to make it fit, you can likely retain much of your factory 93 system.

 

[Rippin_93]

Well i dont have to pass emissions im still licenced in CO so good there. yeah i was researching the wireing today alittle and i think im going with either a painless or Ford Racing wireing harness.

I know the Atlas will eat up some budget but it will be totally worth it. im also planning on upgrading the brake boost to a larger unit to help with the braking. well getting started with more this weekend so keep you all posted.

 

[410Fortune]

Did I miss something? Does Durango not have the sniffer test?
In CO they check for the cat converter that your 93 would have stock and run it through the sniffer test. I am not saying you wont pass, I am saying if I had a carbed V8 in my 88 BII and/or no cat converter, I would not pass.

The Ford racing and Painless wiring kit is a HUGE waste of $$$$ IMO, when you can make the same thing yourself using a junk yard PCM and wiring...

 

[MustangShane]

Or save money and time and put a Megasquirt system in it to run the fuel injection. Grab the coil packs and EDIS off a v-8 DIS t'bird, mark or similar V-8 and run it using the Squirt to control it all. Plus at most you'll spend $350-400 for the tuner. Here are some links you can use. http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html
http://www.dainst.com/info/edis/edis.html

 

[Rippin_93]

hey thanks for the responses so far well im still stumped but i think im going with a junk yard computer and harness kit. any idea what vehicle to look for and a good year. the only problem is i dont know what year the block is yet so im kinda waiting on all the engine stuff till it gets here and i take it to get rebuilt. im going to see if the engine shop has any ideas as well.

also another item i havent had much time to research yet is the tranny. i want an AOD but dont want a computer controled version unless you can stick a rachet shifter on it with a manual computer? i dont think so but not 100% sure. so i was thinking that a good tranny that is probably readly available would be out of an older f150 or 100? any ideas on this question?

still trying to get all the parts and stuff lined out im sure this will go alot easier or smoother once i know what engine i got and go frome there. later all and thanks for any more help you can provide.

 

[Moab Explorer]

Why an AOD? Do you realize that Ford never put one behind a 351 in a truck? There is a reason for that, it's a light duty transmission. Your best bet is a C6 if you want an auto. The AOD has a poor reputation amongst fullsize people, most everyone I know of who has one wants it to go away.

 

[Rippin_93]

Yeah ive been looking at my selection of tranny but the main reason i want an aod is the overdrive. the aod will be a rebuilt one with upgraded clutchs shift kit and so on. im not set in concrete yet on this im still pricing out some tranny stuff but i will take what you said and look at a c6. ive always thought that the aod was a good tranny but maybe ive just talked to people with good experiences. thanks for the info.


as for an update ive found that ill be getting the motor rebuilt at AMP. right now no set figures but will let you know the specs and all when i get the motor down there today or wed. and as everyone has said i am starting to see my buget being broken i thought this would probably happen but im one to do things right the first time even if it takes alittle more time and money. well ill keep you all posted on everything.

 

[Rippin_93]

well i guess i need to change the title to C-6 instead of AOD. i just put the money down on a C-6 cause after what a few people had posted i checked around and it was the closest thing to and AOD and would stand up to the power plant that is now going in this beast. i went way over budget but i got everything straight now i hope and have been cooking at getting this project going.


also look in the for sale section i got some parts for sale from the 351W motor and some stock v-6 stuff.

 

[86caprirs]

Ther is a guy on here who did a 5.8L efi swap with AOD and the stock transfercase into his 91 X with no problems.I think it was Wickedwindsor351 or something like that.Do a search for 5.8L swap.

 

[WickedWindsor]

Are you going to keep 4wd? First of all, with a C6=Huge Tranny!, you are going to have to use a larger xfer case from a full size P/U to bolt up to the C6. That is going to interfere with your frame (won't fit between the frame rails). Though I don't have experience with this combo, I've also read in posts that the C6 will not fit under the EX. Maybe, if you at least have a body lift.

As far as the AOD behind a 351, mine is just fine. If you were maybe to install one that had miles on it, you may be taking a chance. The AOD was offered in mid '80's police Crown Vics with the 'early' version AOD (before tranny updates).

AOD's are regularly used on the strip in hot mustangs pushing high horses. There are simple ways to build it to make it live a long, reliable life behind a 350 Ft-lb 5.0L or 350 Ft-lb 351W. The main important thing you can do is install a good shift kit which will up the line pressure for firm, clean shifts.

If I were to do it over, I would go one of two routes: AOD again or possibly AODE with Bauman Electronic controller ($400.00). The AODE would have cost more but the bonus is that it is a strong tranny from the get-go and has wide ratio gear set for better torque capacity and off the line power.

If you are building a balls to the wall rig that will drive flat out all day long, go with a C4, Advance adapters tailhousing to stock xfer case. Lose overdrive. This is cheapest.

Most sensible for performance and budget, AODE.

Going to the trail on occasion, doing some towing to the campground on weekends, daily driving on the highway.......AOD.

Just my opinion but it is working great for me.

 

[Positive Vibes]

Signing up to watch the progress.

 

[Rippin_93]

Hey thanks for the reply Wicked. all of what you said is totally true and i did put alot of thought into what tranny to get and when i went to the local tranny shop to checkout rebuilds the c-6 was just cheaper and a very stout tranny. i will loose some MPG on the highway but i think it will do good for towing and the weekend trips out wheeling. im working for the funds to get the AA t-case right now that is one heck of an expensive unit. waiting on some more spacifics from the tranny rebuilder before i get the AA. i would of loved to get a used tranny to save money but with the motor im getting built stock would just not last long ill keep ya posted on progress and try and get some pics when the kool stuff starts to happen.

ps i got a 2" body lift to install soon so ill let you all know how that goes. lots of pieces to this build up.

 

[410Fortune]

Dont forget about the 4R70w, an AOD-e that can take the power and with wide ratio gears, excellent trans....

 

[86caprirs]

What about throwing a M5OD to the back of the 5.8L????Use a reballanced 302 flywheel and a 11" clutch kit.

 

[Rippin_93]

Thanks for all the posts guys. I went with the C-6 for the rebuild cost. a totally ground up rebuild with tourqe converter built to handle over 600HP dynoed with a one year warn. 1600 bucks. it was a little more for the other trannys i looked into plus i now maybe looking at also getting another truck for the everyday driver so that i can play more with the X. will see. ill post some pics when i get down to see the progress on the motor and tranny. thanks guys. Rippin out!

 

[Rippin_93]

Well its been awhile sense ive done an update on my project so ill let you all know where i am now. sounds like and interesting story huh well its not!! lol

well doing body lift and found that some of the mounts are bad so ordered up the daystar mounts waiting for those in the mail. bunch of explorer money went into my other truck for a show and race on fathers day weekend in steamboat, CO. gonna need lots of gas money for that trip from phoenix!!!!

other thoughts on this project got me wondering about fuel and how im going to supply this motor with enough? looking for some suggestions on what others have done? looked around and havent decided what im going to do yet?

still paying for the motor hopfully get that in the garage soon so that i can install the mounts and start working on the exhaust. got the C6 tranny and the atlas II in the garage. the atlas is so damn shinny makes me not want to offroad my truck for fear of getting it dirty!! well any comments or suggestions on the fuel thing let me know. now will have to save up money for some axles and a custom suspension!!! WHERE WILL IT END????????

 

[395Dominator]

How about an update on this project?

 

[sn0border88]

his last time on this forum was 8 17 2006, I think the project is over.

 

[Rippin_93]

no the project is not over but it is on hold and has been for a couple of years. really sad that i have a new motor t case tranny and a million other parts in box's that I've had to move over three times. but i finally got my house remodeled and working on finishing my shop and then the only excuse i have left is time and money. so as soon as i find some ill post an update.

believe me i didnt expect to work on it this long just had alot of other things going on. Rippin

PS thanks again for the interest ill try and get some work done this winter.